Coach’s Low Country Brands™ is pleased to announce our recent participation, in the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundations 6^th Annual ProStart® Invitational.  The 2007 ProStart® Invitational; the NRA’s national high school Culinary and Restaurant Management competition, was held April 20 – 22,  2007, in Charlotte NC, at the Charlotte Westin Hotel. Student teams from as far away as Guam and Alaska participated, in this year’s event.   

Coach’s Low Country Brands was the exclusive sponsor, of the Welcome Reception.

Over 600 student competitors, instructors, team coach’s, sponsors, judges and industry were on hand, Friday, April 21, 2007 , in the ballroom, of the Charlotte Westin Hotel, to feast on a real “low country boil”. Dinner included: Coach’s Low Country Boil, a combination of crab, shrimp, smoked sausage, white corn and potatoes; Coach’s Low Country Beef Brisket, Coach’s Low Country Boston Butt; Coach’s Low Country Meatballs, Coach’s Low Country Chicken Tenders and Chicken Wings; as well as grilled spiced vegetables, salads and desserts.

“Coach” Joe Crosby, CEO - Coach’s Low Country Brands™ kicked off the opening of the 2007 ProStart® Invitational, by welcoming all of the participants to do their best, pursue their dreams and give their all, regardless of the situation, as they prepared for Saturday’s competition.       

With approximately 230 student competitors participating; Chef Greg Schaub, Corporate Executive Chef - Coach’s Low Country Brands™, was also on hand, joining other top national industry chef’s, in judging of the “fierce” culinary competition.

Over 800 participants attended the 2007 ProStart® Invitational Awards Dinner.

Sunday, April 22, 2007 the ballroom, of the Charlotte Westin Hotel was home to this much anticipated event. National ProStart® corporate sponsors, attending, included: Coca Cola, Darden Restaurant Group, Golden Corral, Smucker’s, Mercer and Harris Teeters.  

Coach’s Low Country Brands co-sponsored the Awards Dinner, along with; Johnson & Wales University , Le Cordon Bleu Schools, the Art Institute, the Swiss based – Culinary Arts Academy. This year’s event provided special awards to the “Teacher of the Year” in both Culinary and Restaurant Management. Through the newly created sponsorship by Coach’s Low Country Brands, the instructor of both the top culinary and restaurant management team, each received a $1500.00 professional development education scholarship and a $2000.00 unrestricted stipend, to purchase practice supplies for their 2008 teams.

Coach’s Low Country Brands™ will continue with its commitment and support of ProStart®, through 2011, as the Welcome Reception event sponsor, as well as a national Silver level NRAEF sponsor. For additional information, please visit: